U.S. patent application number 16/901850 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for display device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chong Chul CHAI, Kyung Bae KIM, Ji Hye LEE, Yu Jin LEE.
Application Number | 20200403030 16/901850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004925627 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200403030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Yu Jin ; et
al. |
December 24, 2020 |
DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A display device is provided. The display device includes a
first electrode including a first electrode surface extending in a
first direction and a second electrode surface connected to one end
of the first electrode surface and extending in a second direction
that is different from the first direction, a second electrode
including a third electrode surface extending in the first
direction and spaced apart from the first electrode surface and
facing the first electrode surface, and a fourth electrode surface
extending in the second direction and spaced apart from the second
electrode surface and facing the second electrode surface, and at
least one light emitting element between the first electrode and
the second electrode and including a first light emitting element
between the first electrode surface and the third electrode surface
and a second light emitting element between the second electrode
surface and the fourth electrode surface.
Inventors: |
LEE; Yu Jin; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Kyung Bae; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; LEE;
Ji Hye; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; CHAI; Chong Chul;
(Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Display Co., Ltd. |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004925627 |
Appl. No.: |
16/901850 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2933/0066 20130101;
H01L 33/62 20130101; H01L 27/156 20130101; H01L 33/38 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 27/15 20060101
H01L027/15; H01L 33/62 20060101 H01L033/62; H01L 33/38 20060101
H01L033/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0073659 |
May 13, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0057033 |
Claims
1. A display device, comprising: a first electrode comprising a
first electrode surface extending in a first direction and a second
electrode surface connected to one end of the first electrode
surface and extending in a second direction that is different from
the first direction; a second electrode comprising a third
electrode surface extending in the first direction and spaced apart
from the first electrode surface and facing the first electrode
surface, and a fourth electrode surface extending in the second
direction and spaced apart from the second electrode surface and
facing the second electrode surface; and at least one light
emitting element between the first electrode and the second
electrode and comprising a first light emitting element between the
first electrode surface and the third electrode surface and a
second light emitting element between the second electrode surface
and the fourth electrode surface.
2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting
element has a shape extending in one direction, and wherein a first
angle, which is an acute angle between a long axis of the first
light emitting element and the first direction, is different from a
second angle, which is an acute angle between a long axis of the
second light emitting element and the first direction.
3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first angle is
greater than the second angle.
4. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first electrode
further comprises a fifth surface that is connected to the other
end of the first electrode surface and that extends in a third
direction that is different from the first direction and the second
direction, wherein the second electrode further comprises a sixth
surface that is connected to the other end of the third electrode
surface, that extends in the third direction, that is spaced apart
from the fifth surface, and that faces the fifth surface, and
wherein the light emitting element further comprises a third light
emitting element between the fifth surface and the sixth
surface.
5. The display device of claim 4, wherein a third angle, which is
an acute angle between a long axis of the third light emitting
element and the first direction, is smaller than the first
angle.
6. The display device of claim 5, wherein directions of the long
axes of the first light emitting element, the second light emitting
element, and the third light emitting element cross each other.
7. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a first
contact electrode contacting one end of the first light emitting
element and the first electrode surface of the first electrode; and
a second contact electrode contacting the other end of the first
light emitting element and the third electrode surface of the
second electrode.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the first contact
electrode extends from a portion in which the first electrode
surface is connected to the second electrode surface in the second
direction to be in contact with the second electrode surface and
one end of the second light emitting element.
9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the third electrode
surface of the second electrode is connected to the fourth
electrode surface of the second electrode, and the second contact
electrode extends from a portion in which the third electrode
surface is connected to the fourth electrode surface in the second
direction to be in contact with the fourth electrode surface and
the other end of the second light emitting element.
10. The display device of claim 7, wherein the second electrode
comprises: a first fragment comprising the third electrode surface;
and a second fragment spaced apart from the first fragment and
comprising the fourth electrode surface.
11. The display device of claim 10, further comprising: a third
contact electrode contacting one end of the second light emitting
element and the second electrode surface of the first electrode;
and a fourth contact electrode contacting the other end of the
second light emitting element and the fourth electrode surface of
the second fragment.
12. A display device, comprising: a first electrode comprising a
first electrode extension portion extending in a first direction,
and a first electrode expansion portion formed by expanding at
least a portion of the first electrode extension portion; a second
electrode comprising a second electrode extension portion extending
in the first direction to be spaced apart from the first electrode
extension portion and to face the first electrode extension
portion, and a second electrode bending portion formed by bending
at least a portion of the second electrode extension portion to be
spaced apart from the first electrode expansion portion and to face
the first electrode expansion portion; and at least one light
emitting element between the first electrode expansion portion and
the second electrode bending portion, and having a shape such that
a direction of a long axis of the at least one light emitting
element crosses a direction of a long axis of another light
emitting element.
13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first electrode
expansion portion comprises a first electrode surface extending in
the first direction, and a second electrode surface extending in a
second direction that is different from the first direction,
wherein the second electrode bending portion comprises a third
electrode surface spaced apart from the first electrode surface and
facing the first electrode surface, and a fourth electrode surface
spaced apart from the second electrode surface and facing the
second electrode surface, and wherein the at least one light
emitting element comprises a first light emitting element between
the first electrode surface and the third electrode surface, and a
second light emitting element between the second electrode surface
and the fourth electrode surface.
14. The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a first
contact electrode contacting the first electrode expansion portion
and one end of the first light emitting element; and a second
contact electrode contacting the second electrode bending portion
and the other end of the first light emitting element.
15. The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a third
electrode between the first electrode expansion portion and the
second electrode bending portion; and a fourth electrode between
the third electrode and the second electrode bending portion,
wherein the third electrode comprises a plurality of third
electrode fragments spaced apart from each other in the first
direction, and wherein the fourth electrode comprises a plurality
of fourth electrode fragments spaced apart from each other in the
first direction.
16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the light emitting
element comprises: a third light emitting element between the first
electrode expansion portion and one of the third electrode
fragments; a fourth light emitting element between the third
electrode fragment and one of the fourth electrode fragments; and a
fifth light emitting element between the fourth electrode fragment
and the second electrode bending portion.
17. The display device of claim 15, wherein the third electrode
fragments comprise a first sub-fragment spaced apart from, and
facing, the first electrode surface of the first electrode
expansion portion, and a second sub-fragment spaced apart from, and
facing, the second electrode surface, and wherein the at least one
light emitting element comprises a sixth light emitting element
between the first electrode surface and the first sub-fragment, and
a seventh light emitting element between the second electrode
surface and the second sub-fragment.
18. The display device of claim 17, further comprising: a third
contact electrode contacting the first sub-fragment and one end of
the sixth light emitting element; and a fourth contact electrode
contacting the second sub-fragment and one end of the seventh light
emitting element, wherein the third contact electrode is spaced
apart from the fourth contact electrode in the first direction.
19. A display device, comprising: a plurality of pixels in each
which at least one light emitting area is defined, and comprising:
a first electrode comprising a first electrode extension portion
extending in a first direction, and a first electrode expansion
portion formed by expanding at least a portion of the first
electrode extension portion; a second electrode comprising a second
electrode extension portion extending in the first direction to be
spaced apart from, and to face, the first electrode extension
portion, and a second electrode bending portion formed by bending
at least a portion of the second electrode extension portion to be
spaced apart from, and to face, the first electrode expansion
portion; and a first light emitting element and a second light
emitting element between the first electrode expansion portion and
the second electrode bending portion, and each having a long axis
respectively extending in directions crossing each other, wherein
the plurality of pixels comprise: a first pixel comprising a first
light emitting area; and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel
and comprising a second light emitting area and a third light
emitting area spaced apart from each other in the first
direction.
20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the second electrode
comprises a second electrode stem extending in a second direction
crossing the first direction, wherein the second electrode
extension portions of the first light emitting area and the second
light emitting area are branched from the second electrode stem,
and wherein the second electrode extension portions of the second
light emitting area and the third light emitting area are connected
to each other.
21. The display device of claim 19, wherein the first electrode
expansion portion comprises a first electrode surface extending in
the first direction and a second electrode surface extending in a
second direction that is different from the first direction,
wherein the second electrode bending portion comprises a third
electrode surface facing the first electrode surface and a fourth
electrode surface facing the second electrode surface, and wherein
the at least one light emitting element comprises a first light
emitting element between the first electrode surface and the third
electrode surface and a second light emitting element between the
second electrode surface and the fourth electrode surface.
22. The display device of claim 21, further comprising: a partition
wall surrounding the light emitting area of each of the pixels and
comprising an opening area exposing the light emitting area,
wherein the second electrode extension portion and the second
electrode bending portion may be disposed between the first
electrode and the partition wall.
23. The display device of claim 22, wherein the partition wall may
be disposed between the neighboring pixels, and comprises a
partition wall extension portion extending in the first direction
and corresponding to the first electrode surface of the first
electrode expansion portion and a partition wall bending portion
extending in the second direction and corresponding to the second
electrode surface of the first electrode expansion portion.
24. The display device of claim 23, wherein the partition wall
extension portion and the partition wall bending portion are
disposed between the second light emitting area and third light
emitting area of the second pixel and between the second light
emitting area of the second pixel and the first light emitting area
of the first pixel.
25. The display device of claim 23, wherein the opening area
comprises a first opening portion in which the first electrode
extension portion is disposed, a second opening portion in which
the first electrode expansion portion is disposed and a width of
which in the second direction is greater than a width of the first
opening portion in the second direction, and a third opening
portion which connects the first portion and the second opening
portion and a width of which becomes narrower along the first
direction, and the partition wall extension portion is disposed
corresponding to the second opening portion of the opening area,
and the partition wall bending portion may be disposed
corresponding to the third opening portion of the opening area.
26. The display device of claim 25, wherein the partition wall
comprises a first opening area exposing the first light emitting
area of the first pixel and a second opening area exposing the
second light emitting area and third light emitting area of the
second pixel, and the first opening area comprises one of the
second opening portions, and the second opening area may include
the plurality of second opening portions spaced apart from each
other in the first direction.
27. The display device of claim 26, wherein, in the plurality of
pixels, the first pixels and the second pixels are alternately
arranged along the second direction, and the first opening areas
and the second opening areas are also alternately arranged along
the second direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of,
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0073659 filed on Jun. 20,
2019 and No. 10-2020-0057033 filed on May 13, 2020 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, which is hereby incorporated by
reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a display device, and to a
method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] The importance of a display device has increased with the
development of multimedia. Accordingly, various types of display
devices, such as an organic light emitting display (OLED) and a
liquid crystal display (LCD), have been used.
[0004] A display device for displaying an image includes a display
panel, such as an organic light emitting display panel or a liquid
crystal display panel. Among display panels, an organic light
emitting display panel includes an organic light emitting element,
such as a light emitting diode (LED). The light emitting diode
(LED) includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) using an
organic material as a fluorescent material, and an inorganic light
emitting diode using an inorganic material as a fluorescent
material.
SUMMARY
[0005] An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display
device that includes a plurality of electrodes extending in
different directions from each other, and in which light emitting
elements located between the electrodes are aligned in various
directions.
[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a
display device that emits light in various directions without
fixing the emission direction of light emitted from light emitting
elements.
[0007] However, aspects of the present disclosure are not
restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other aspects
of the present disclosure will become more apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains
by referencing the detailed description of the present disclosure
given below.
[0008] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the
above-described effects, and other effects that are not described
herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following description.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
display device includes a first electrode including a first
electrode surface extending in a first direction and a second
electrode surface connected to one end of the first electrode
surface and extending in a second direction that is different from
the first direction, a second electrode including a third electrode
surface extending in the first direction and spaced apart from the
first electrode surface and facing the first electrode surface, and
a fourth electrode surface extending in the second direction and
spaced apart from the second electrode surface and facing the
second electrode surface, and at least one light emitting element
between the first electrode and the second electrode and including
a first light emitting element between the first electrode surface
and the third electrode surface and a second light emitting element
between the second electrode surface and the fourth electrode
surface.
[0010] The light emitting element may have a shape extending in one
direction, wherein a first angle, which is an acute angle between a
long axis of the first light emitting element and the first
direction, is different from a second angle, which is an acute
angle between a long axis of the second light emitting element and
the first direction.
[0011] The first angle may be greater than the second angle.
[0012] The first electrode may further include a fifth surface that
is connected to the other end of the first electrode surface and
that extends in a third direction that is different from the first
direction and the second direction, the second electrode may
further include a sixth surface that is connected to the other end
of the third electrode surface, that extends in the third
direction, that is spaced apart from the fifth surface, and that
faces the fifth surface, and the light emitting element may further
include a third light emitting element between the fifth surface
and the sixth surface.
[0013] A third angle, which is an acute angle between a long axis
of the third light emitting element and the first direction, may be
smaller than the first angle.
[0014] Directions of the long axes of the first light emitting
element, the second light emitting element, and the third light
emitting element cross each other.
[0015] The display device may further include a first contact
electrode contacting one end of the first light emitting element
and the first electrode surface of the first electrode, and a
second contact electrode contacting the other end of the first
light emitting element and the third electrode surface of the
second electrode.
[0016] The first contact electrode may extend from a portion in
which the first electrode surface is connected to the second
electrode surface in the second direction to be in contact with the
second electrode surface and one end of the second light emitting
element.
[0017] The third electrode surface of the second electrode may be
connected to the fourth electrode surface of the second electrode,
and the second contact electrode may extend from a portion in which
the third electrode surface is connected to the fourth electrode
surface in the second direction to be in contact with the fourth
electrode surface and the other end of the second light emitting
element.
[0018] The second electrode may include a first fragment including
the third electrode surface, and a second fragment spaced apart
from the first fragment and including the fourth electrode
surface.
[0019] The display device may further include a third contact
electrode contacting one end of the second light emitting element
and the second electrode surface of the first electrode, and a
fourth contact electrode contacting the other end of the second
light emitting element and the fourth electrode surface of the
second fragment.
[0020] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a
display device includes a first electrode including a first
electrode extension portion extending in a first direction, and a
first electrode expansion portion formed by expanding at least a
portion of the first electrode extension portion, a second
electrode including a second electrode extension portion extending
in the first direction to be spaced apart from the first electrode
extension portion and to face the first electrode extension
portion, and a second electrode bending portion formed by bending
at least a portion of the second electrode extension portion to be
spaced apart from the first electrode expansion portion and to face
the first electrode expansion portion, and at least one light
emitting element between the first electrode expansion portion and
the second electrode bending portion, and having a shape such that
a direction of a long axis of the at least one light emitting
element crosses a direction of a long axis of another light
emitting element.
[0021] The first electrode expansion portion may include a first
electrode surface extending in the first direction, and a second
electrode surface extending in a second direction that is different
from the first direction, the second electrode bending portion may
include a third electrode surface spaced apart from the first
electrode surface and facing the first electrode surface, and a
fourth electrode surface spaced apart from the second electrode
surface and facing the second electrode surface, and the at least
one light emitting element may include a first light emitting
element between the first electrode surface and the third electrode
surface, and a second light emitting element between the second
electrode surface and the fourth electrode surface.
[0022] The display device may further include a first contact
electrode contacting the first electrode expansion portion and one
end of the first light emitting element, and a second contact
electrode contacting the second electrode bending portion and the
other end of the first light emitting element.
[0023] The display device may further include a third electrode
between the first electrode expansion portion and the second
electrode bending portion, and a fourth electrode between the third
electrode and the second electrode bending portion, wherein the
third electrode includes a plurality of third electrode fragments
spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and wherein
the fourth electrode includes a plurality of fourth electrode
fragments spaced apart from each other in the first direction.
[0024] The light emitting element may include a third light
emitting element between the first electrode expansion portion and
one of the third electrode fragments, a fourth light emitting
element between the third electrode fragment and one of the fourth
electrode fragments, and a fifth light emitting element between the
fourth electrode fragment and the second electrode bending
portion.
[0025] The third electrode fragments may include a first
sub-fragment spaced apart from, and facing, the first electrode
surface of the first electrode expansion portion, and a second
sub-fragment spaced apart from, and facing, the second electrode
surface, and the at least one light emitting element may include a
sixth light emitting element between the first electrode surface
and the first sub-fragment, and a seventh light emitting element
between the second electrode surface and the second
sub-fragment.
[0026] The display device may further include a third contact
electrode contacting the first sub-fragment and one end of the
sixth light emitting element, and a fourth contact electrode
contacting the second sub-fragment and one end of the seventh light
emitting element, wherein the third contact electrode is spaced
apart from the fourth contact electrode in the first direction.
[0027] According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure,
a display device includes a plurality of pixels in each which at
least one light emitting area is defined, and including a first
electrode including a first electrode extension portion extending
in a first direction, and a first electrode expansion portion
formed by expanding at least a portion of the first electrode
extension portion, a second electrode including a second electrode
extension portion extending in the first direction to be spaced
apart from, and to face, the first electrode extension portion, and
a second electrode bending portion formed by bending at least a
portion of the second electrode extension portion to be spaced
apart from, and to face, the first electrode expansion portion, and
a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element
between the first electrode expansion portion and the second
electrode bending portion, and each having a long axis respectively
extending in directions crossing each other, wherein the plurality
of pixels include a first pixel including a first light emitting
area, and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel and including
a second light emitting area and a third light emitting area spaced
apart from each other in the first direction.
[0028] The second electrode may include a second electrode stem
extending in a second direction crossing the first direction,
wherein the second electrode extension portions of the first light
emitting area and the second light emitting area are branched from
the second electrode stem, and wherein the second electrode
extension portions of the second light emitting area and the third
light emitting area are connected to each other.
[0029] The first electrode expansion portion may comprise a first
electrode surface extending in the first direction and a second
electrode surface extending in a second direction that is different
from the first direction, wherein the second electrode bending
portion may comprise a third electrode surface facing the first
electrode surface and a fourth electrode surface facing the second
electrode surface, and wherein the at least one light emitting
element may comprise a first light emitting element between the
first electrode surface and the third electrode surface and a
second light emitting element between the second electrode surface
and the fourth electrode surface.
[0030] The display device may further comprise: a partition wall
surrounding the light emitting area of each of the pixels and
comprising an opening area exposing the light emitting area,
wherein the second electrode extension portion and the second
electrode bending portion may be disposed between the first
electrode and the partition wall.
[0031] The partition wall may be disposed between the neighboring
pixels, and may comprise a partition wall extension portion
extending in the first direction and corresponding to the first
electrode surface of the first electrode expansion portion and a
partition wall bending portion extending in the second direction
and corresponding to the second electrode surface of the first
electrode expansion portion.
[0032] The partition wall extension portion and the partition wall
bending portion may be disposed between the second light emitting
area and third light emitting area of the second pixel and between
the second light emitting area of the second pixel and the first
light emitting area of the first pixel.
[0033] The opening area may comprise a first opening portion in
which the first electrode extension portion is disposed, a second
opening portion in which the first electrode expansion portion is
disposed and a width of which in the second direction is greater
than a width of the first opening portion in the second direction,
and a third opening portion which connects the first portion and
the second opening portion and a width of which becomes narrower
along the first direction, and the partition wall extension portion
may be disposed corresponding to the second opening portion of the
opening area, and the partition wall bending portion may be
disposed corresponding to the third opening portion of the opening
area.
[0034] The partition wall may comprise a first opening area
exposing the first light emitting area of the first pixel and a
second opening area exposing the second light emitting area and
third light emitting area of the second pixel, and the first
opening area may comprise one of the second opening portions, and
the second opening area may include the plurality of second opening
portions spaced apart from each other in the first direction.
[0035] In the plurality of pixels, the first pixels and the second
pixels may be alternately arranged along the second direction, and
the first opening areas and the second opening areas may also be
alternately arranged along the second direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The above and other aspects of the present disclosure will
become more apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof
with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an
embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion A of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the emission direction of
light emitted from light emitting elements included in the display
device according to an embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Q1-Q1'
of FIG. 2;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a light emitting element
according to an embodiment;
[0042] FIGS. 6 to 15 are schematic view showing a process of
manufacturing a display device according to an embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a display device according to
another embodiment; and
[0044] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the portion B of FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Features of the inventive concept and methods of
accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference
to the detailed description of embodiments and the accompanying
drawings. Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described
embodiments, however, may be embodied in various different forms,
and should not be construed as being limited to only the
illustrated embodiments herein. Rather, these embodiments are
provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and
complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features of the
present inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,
processes, elements, and techniques that are not necessary to those
having ordinary skill in the art for a complete understanding of
the aspects and features of the present inventive concept may not
be described.
[0046] Unless otherwise noted, like reference numerals denote like
elements throughout the attached drawings and the written
description, and thus, descriptions thereof will not be repeated.
Further, parts not related to the description of the embodiments
might not be shown to make the description clear. In the drawings,
the relative sizes of elements, layers, and regions may be
exaggerated for clarity.
[0047] Various embodiments are described herein with reference to
sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of
embodiments and/or intermediate structures. As such, variations
from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of
manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected.
Further, specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed
herein are merely illustrative for the purpose of describing
embodiments according to the concept of the present disclosure.
Thus, embodiments disclosed herein should not be construed as
limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions, but are to
include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,
manufacturing.
[0048] For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle
will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient
of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change
from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region
formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the
region between the buried region and the surface through which the
implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the
drawings are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended
to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not
intended to be limiting. Additionally, as those skilled in the art
would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various
different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of
the present disclosure.
[0049] In the detailed description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a
thorough understanding of various embodiments. It is apparent,
however, that various embodiments may be practiced without these
specific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In
other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in
block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring
various embodiments.
[0050] It will be understood that, although the terms "first,"
"second," "third," etc., may be used herein to describe various
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be
limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one
element, component, region, layer or section from another element,
component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,
component, region, layer or section described below could be termed
a second element, component, region, layer or section, without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0051] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below,"
"lower," "under," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used
herein for ease of explanation to describe one element or feature's
relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in
the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative
terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the
device in use or in operation, in addition to the orientation
depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures
is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" or
"under" other elements or features would then be oriented "above"
the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms "below" and
"under" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The
device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at
other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used
herein should be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, when a first
part is described as being arranged "on" a second part, this
indicates that the first part is arranged at an upper side or a
lower side of the second part without the limitation to the upper
side thereof on the basis of the gravity direction.
[0052] It will be understood that when an element, layer, region,
or component is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or
"coupled to" another element, layer, region, or component, it can
be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element,
layer, region, or component, or one or more intervening elements,
layers, regions, or components may be present. However, "directly
connected/directly coupled" refers to one component directly
connecting or coupling another component without an intermediate
component. Meanwhile, other expressions describing relationships
between components such as "between," "immediately between" or
"adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to" may be construed
similarly. In addition, it will also be understood that when an
element or layer is referred to as being "between" two elements or
layers, it can be the only element or layer between the two
elements or layers, or one or more intervening elements or layers
may also be present.
[0053] For the purposes of this disclosure, expressions such as "at
least one of," when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire
list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the
list. For example, "at least one of X, Y, and Z" and "at least one
selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z" may be construed
as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X,
Y, and Z, such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
[0054] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a" and
"an" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "have," "having,"
"includes," and "including," when used in this specification,
specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As
used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the associated listed items.
[0055] As used herein, the term "substantially," "about,"
"approximately," and similar terms are used as terms of
approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to
account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated
values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the
art. "About" or "approximately," as used herein, is inclusive of
the stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation
for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in
the art, considering the measurement in question and the error
associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the
limitations of the measurement system). For example, "about" may
mean within one or more standard deviations, or within .+-.30%,
20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value. Further, the use of "may" when
describing embodiments of the present disclosure refers to "one or
more embodiments of the present disclosure."
[0056] When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a
specific process order may be performed differently from the
described order. For example, two consecutively described processes
may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an
order opposite to the described order.
[0057] Also, any numerical range disclosed and/or recited herein is
intended to include all sub-ranges of the same numerical precision
subsumed within the recited range. For example, a range of "1.0 to
10.0" is intended to include all subranges between (and including)
the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recited maximum value of
10.0, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0
and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, such as, for
example, 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limitation recited
herein is intended to include all lower numerical limitations
subsumed therein, and any minimum numerical limitation recited in
this specification is intended to include all higher numerical
limitations subsumed therein. Accordingly, Applicant reserves the
right to amend this specification, including the claims, to
expressly recite any sub-range subsumed within the ranges expressly
recited herein. All such ranges are intended to be inherently
described in this specification such that amending to expressly
recite any such subranges would comply with the requirements of 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 112(a) and 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 132(a).
[0058] The electronic or electric devices and/or any other relevant
devices or components according to embodiments of the present
disclosure described herein may be implemented utilizing any
suitable hardware, firmware (e.g. an application-specific
integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software,
firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of
these devices may be formed on one integrated circuit (IC) chip or
on separate IC chips. Further, the various components of these
devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a
tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or
formed on one substrate.
[0059] Further, the various components of these devices may be a
process or thread, running on one or more processors, in one or
more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and
interacting with other system components for performing the various
functionalities described herein. The computer program instructions
are stored in a memory which may be implemented in a computing
device using a standard memory device, such as, for example, a
random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions may
also be stored in other non-transitory computer readable media such
as, for example, a CD-ROM, flash drive, or the like. Also, a person
of skill in the art should recognize that the functionality of
various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a
single computing device, or the functionality of a particular
computing device may be distributed across one or more other
computing devices without departing from the spirit and scope of
the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0060] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present
inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that
terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should
be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present
specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or
overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.
[0061] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an
embodiment.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 1, a display device 10 may include a
plurality of pixels PX. Each of the pixels PX includes at least one
light emitting element 300 for emitting light of a given wavelength
band to display a given color.
[0063] Each of the pixels PX may include a first sub-pixel PX1, a
second sub-pixel PX2, and a third sub-pixel PX3. The first
sub-pixel PX1 may emit light of a first color, the second sub-pixel
PX2 may emit light of a second color, and the third sub-pixel PX3
may emit light of a third color. It is shown in FIG. 1 that the
pixel PX includes three sub-pixels PXn, and two pixels PX include a
total of six sub-pixels PXn. In an embodiment, the first sub-pixel
PX1 and the fourth sub-pixel PX4 may emit red light of the first
color, the second sub pixel PX2 and the fifth sub pixel PX5 may
emit green light of the second color, and the third sub-pixel PX3
and the sixth sub-pixel PX6 may emit blue light of the third color.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the
pixel PX may include a larger number of sub-pixels PXn. Further, in
the display device 10, a plurality of pixels PX or sub-pixels PXn
shown in FIG. 1 may be arranged in a first direction DR1 and a
second direction DR2.
[0064] Each of the sub-pixels PXn of the display device 10 may
include areas defined as a light emitting area LA or a non-light
emitting area NLA. The light emitting area LA is defined as an area
in which a light emitting element 300 included in the display
device 10 is located to emit light of a given wavelength band. The
non-light emitting area NLA, which is an area other than the light
emitting area LA, is defined as an area in which no light emitting
element 300 is located and no light is emitted.
[0065] In an embodiment, each of the sub-pixels PXn of the display
device 10 may include at least one light emitting area LA. As shown
in FIG. 1, each of the first sub-pixel PX1, the third sub-pixel
PX3, and the fifth sub-pixel PX5 may include one light emitting
area LA, and each of the second sub-pixel PX2, the fourth sub-pixel
PX4, and the sixth sub-pixel PX6 may include two light emitting
areas LA. Each of the pixels PX may include three sub-pixels PXn,
and the pixels PX of the display device 10 may include different
types of first-type pixels PXa and second-type pixels PXb.
[0066] For example, the first-type pixel PXa includes two
sub-pixels PX1 and PX3 each having one light emitting area LA and
one sub-pixel PX2 having two light emitting areas LA. The
second-type pixel PXb includes one sub-pixel PX5 having one light
emitting area LA and two sub-pixel PX4 and PX6 each having two
light emitting areas
[0067] LA. That is, the first-type pixel PXa may have four light
emitting areas LA, the second-type pixel PXb may have five light
emitting areas LA, and the display device 10 may be provided with a
plurality of unit pixels each having the first-type pixel PXa and
the second-type pixel PXb.
[0068] When each sub-pixel PXn has one light emitting area LA, six
sub-pixels PXn have six light emitting areas LA. However, in the
display device 10 according to an embodiment, six sub-pixels PXn
may have nine light emitting areas LA. That is, in the display
device 10 according to an embodiment, some of the sub-pixels PXn
may include a plurality of light emitting areas LA, and thus light
emission efficiency per unit area can be improved.
[0069] As will be described later, a plurality of electrodes, for
example, a first electrode 210 and a second electrode 220, are
located in the light emitting area LA, and a plurality of light
emitting elements are located therebetween. According to an
embodiment, the respective light emitting elements 300 are located
between the first electrode expansion portion 210E (shown in FIG.
2) of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode bending
portion 220D (shown in FIG. 2) of the second electrode 220, and the
light emitting elements 300 may be aligned in different directions.
A plurality of light emitting elements 300 having different
alignment directions are arranged in one light emitting area LA,
and each light emitting area LA may have a light emitting direction
according to the alignment direction of the light emitting element
300. Details thereof will be described later with reference to
other drawings.
[0070] The sub-pixel PXn of the display device 10 may include a
plurality of electrodes 210 and 220 and a plurality of light
emitting elements 300. Further, the present disclosure is limited
thereto, and the sub-pixel PXn may include many members not shown
in FIG. 1, for example, a plurality of partition walls 400 and a
plurality of insulating layers 510, 520, and 550.
[0071] The plurality of electrodes 210 and 220 may be electrically
connected to the light emitting elements 300, and may receive a
predetermined voltage to allow the light emitting elements to emit
light. At least a portion of each of the electrodes 210 and 220 may
be used in forming an electric field in the sub-pixel PXn in order
to align light emitting elements 300.
[0072] The plurality of electrodes 210 and 220 may include a first
electrode 210 and a second electrode 220. In an embodiment, the
first electrode 210 may be a pixel electrode separated for each
sub-pixel PXn, and the second electrode 220 may be a common
electrode commonly connected along each sub-pixel PXn. One of the
first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may be an anode
electrode of the light emitting element 300, and the other thereof
may be a cathode electrode of the light emitting element 300.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0073] The first electrode 210 may include a first electrode stem
210S extending in a first direction (e.g., DR1), and may include a
first electrode branch 210B branched from the first electrode stem
210S and extending in a second direction (e.g., DR2) crossing the
first direction, and the second electrode 220 may include a second
electrode stem 220S extending in the first direction, and may
include a second electrode branch 220B branched from the second
electrode stem 220S and extending in the second direction.
[0074] Both ends of the first electrode stem 210S of any one pixel
are spaced and terminated between the respective sub-pixels PXn,
and may be placed on the same straight line as the first electrode
stem 210S of the adjacent sub-pixel (for example, adjacent in the
first direction DR1 belonging to the same row). Thus, the first
electrode stem 210S located in each sub-pixel PXn may apply
different electrical signals to the first electrode branch 210B,
and the first electrode branches 210B may be separately driven,
respectively.
[0075] The first electrode branch 210B is branched from at least a
portion of the first electrode stem 210S, and is spaced apart from
the first electrode stem 210S and extends in the second direction
DR2. The first electrode branch 210B may be branched from the first
electrode stem 210S, but the region branched during the
manufacturing process of the display device 10 may be disconnected
along a cutting portion CB. The first electrode branch 210B may be
connected to a circuit element layer through an electrode contact
hole CNTD formed in the first electrode expansion portion 210E to
be described later. That is, the first electrode stem 210S may be a
floating electrode. The first electrode branch 210B may be
terminated in a state of being spaced apart from the second
electrode stem 220S located to face the first electrode stem
210S.
[0076] According to an embodiment, the first electrode branch 210B
may include a first electrode extension portion 210C extending in
the second direction DR2 and a first electrode expansion portion
210E formed by expanding at least a portion of the first electrode
extension portion 210C.
[0077] The first electrode extension portion 210C may be an
electrode extending in the direction branched from the first
electrode stem 210S (e.g., in the second direction D2), and the
first expansion portion 210E may be a region in which a portion of
the first electrode extension portion 210C is expanded in width in
a direction other than the second direction DR2, for example, in
the first direction DR1. That is, the width of the first electrode
expansion portion 210E may be greater than the width of the first
electrode extension portion 210C. The first electrode expansion
portion 210E may provide a region in which the light emitting
element 300 is located, and the light emitting element 300 might
not be located in the first electrode extension portion 210C. The
first electrode expansion portion 210E may be electrically
connected to a circuit element layer through an electrode contact
hole CNTD to be described later, and may transmit electrical
signals (e.g., predetermined electric signals) to the light
emitting element 300.
[0078] The first electrode expansion portion 210E is expanded to
have a width (e.g., a predetermined width), thereby including a
plurality of electrode surfaces ES (e.g., electrode surfaces
ES1-ES3, shown in FIG. 2). Unlike the first electrode extension
portion 210C, the first electrode expansion portion 210E may
include one electrode surface ES extending in the second direction
DR2, and another electrode surface ES extending in a different
direction than the one electrode surface ES and the first electrode
extension portion 210C. According to an embodiment, the light
emitting elements 300, which each have one end located on the
electrode surface ES of the first electrode expansion portion 210E,
may be aligned with different orientations. Thus, in the first
electrode expansion portion 210E, the light emitting element 300
may be located on the electrode surface ES, thereby forming the
light emitting area LA of each sub-pixel PXn.
[0079] In some cases, a portion of the first electrode extension
portion 210C may be disconnected. For example, in the case of the
first sub-pixel PX1, the first sub-pixel PX1 includes one light
emitting area LA, and thus one first electrode branch 210B may
include one first electrode expansion portion 210E and one first
electrode extension portion 210C. In the case of the second
sub-pixel PX2, the second sub-pixel PX2 includes two light emitting
areas LA, and thus one first electrode branch 210B may include two
first electrode expansion portions 210E and two first electrode
extension portions 210C.
[0080] Meanwhile, the first electrode branch 210B may not
necessarily include the first electrode expansion portion 210E, and
at least one first electrode branch 210B may be located for each
sub-pixel PXn. Unlike FIG. 1, when the first electrode 210 includes
one or more first electrode branches 210B, some of the first
electrode branches 2106 include the first electrode expansion
portion 210E, whereas other first electrode branches 210B may omit
the first electrode expansion portion 210E. Detailed descriptions
thereof will be referred to other embodiments.
[0081] The second electrode 220 may include a second electrode stem
220S extending in the first direction DR1 and spaced apart from the
first electrode branch 210S to face the first electrode branch
210S, and at least one second electrode branch 220B branched from
the second electrode stem 220S, and extending in the second
direction DR2. The second electrode stem 220S may extend to a
plurality of sub-pixels PXn whose other ends are adjacent in the
first direction DR1. Thus, both ends of the second electrode stem
220S of any one pixel may be connected to the second electrode stem
220S of respective adjacent pixels PX. In an embodiment, the second
electrode stem 220S may be connected to the second electrode branch
220B of each sub-pixel PXn. The plurality of sub-pixels PXn may
share one second electrode stem 220S with a neighboring sub-pixel
PXn, and may receive the same electric signal. In other
embodiments, the second electrode stem 220S may be electrically
connected to a circuit element layer through another contact
hole.
[0082] The second electrode branch 220B may be spaced apart from
the first electrode branch 2106, and may face the first electrode
branch 2106, and may be terminated in a state of being spaced apart
from the first electrode stem 210S. One end of the second electrode
branch 220B may be connected to the second electrode stem 220S, and
the other end thereof may be located in the sub-pixel PXn in a
state of being spaced apart from the first electrode stem 210S.
[0083] According to an embodiment, the second electrode branch 220B
may include a second electrode extension portion 220C extending in
the second direction DR2 and spaced apart from, and facing, the
first electrode extension portion 210C, and also may include a
second electrode bending portion 220D formed by bending at least a
portion of the second electrode extension portion 220C, and which
is spaced apart from, and facing, the first electrode expansion
portion 210E.
[0084] One end of the second electrode extension portion 220C is
connected to the second electrode stem 220S, and the other end
thereof is spaced apart from the first electrode stem 210S and is
terminated. The second electrode extension portion 220C is located
to be spaced apart from and facing the first electrode extension
portion 210C.
[0085] A portion of the second electrode extension portion 220C may
be bent such that the second electrode bending portion 220D is
spaced apart from, while facing, the electrode surface ES of the
first electrode expansion portion 210E. The second electrode
bending portion 220D may also include a plurality of electrode
surfaces ES, and these electrode surfaces ES may be spaced apart
from, while facing, the electrode surface ES of the first electrode
expansion portion 210E. For example, the second electrode bending
portion 220D may include an electrode surface extending in the
second direction DR2 such that the second electrode bending portion
220D is spaced apart from and faces the electrode surface ES of the
first electrode expansion portion 210E extending in the second
direction DR2. Further, the second electrode bending portion 220D
may include an electrode surface obtained by bending a portion of
the second electrode extension portion 220C such that the second
electrode bending portion 220D faces another electrode surface ES
that extends in another direction (e.g., other than the second
direction DR2). According to an embodiment, the light emitting
elements 300, the other end of each of which is located on the
electrode surface ES of the second electrode bending portion 220D,
may be aligned with different orientations.
[0086] In an embodiment, the plurality of second electrode branches
220B are provided, and each of the second electrode branches 220B
may include the second electrode bending portion 220D partially
surrounding the outer electrode surface ES of the first electrode
expansion portion 210E. It is shown in the drawings that two second
electrode branches 220B are located in each sub-pixel PXn, and the
first electrode branch 2106 of each sub-pixel PXn is located
between the two second electrode branches 220B. The first electrode
branch 2106 located between the two second electrode branches 220B
may be located such that the first electrode expansion portion 210E
is surrounded by the second electrode bending portion 220D.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As
described above, a larger number of first electrode branches 2106
and a larger number of second electrode branches 220B may be
located in each sub-pixel PXn.
[0087] The plurality of light emitting elements 300 may be
respectively located between the first electrode branch 210B and
the second electrode branches 220B, for example, between the first
electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending
portion 220D. In some of the plurality of light emitting elements
300, one end of the light emitting element 300 may be electrically
connected to the first electrode expansion portion 210E, and the
other end thereof may be electrically connected to the second
electrode bending portion 220D.
[0088] The plurality of light emitting elements 300 are located to
be spaced apart from each other, and the distances therebetween are
not particularly limited. In some cases, the plurality of light
emitting elements 300 are arranged adjacent to each other to form a
group, and the other light emitting elements 300 may form a group
in a state of being spaced apart at regular intervals, and may have
non-uniform density, and may be aligned in one direction.
[0089] According to an embodiment, the plurality of light emitting
elements 300 may have a shape in which a long axis across both ends
extends in one direction, and respective directions in which the
long axis of respective ones of the plurality of light emitting
elements 300 extend may cross each other. The light emitting
elements 300 may be located between the first electrode expansion
portion 210E and the second electrode bending portion 220D, and
respective electrode surfaces ES of the first electrode expansion
portion 210E and the second electrode bending portion 220D may
extend in different directions from each other. Both ends of the
light emitting element 300 may be located between the first
electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending
portion 220D, and the direction in which the long axis of the light
emitting element 300 extends may vary depending on the direction in
which the electrode surfaces ES extend. The display device 10
according to an embodiment may be configured such that the
plurality of light emitting elements 300, including the first
electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending
portion 220D, have different alignment directions with respect to
each other.
[0090] Meanwhile, although not shown in FIG. 1, the display device
10 according to an embodiment may further include other members in
addition to the plurality of electrodes 210 and 220 and the
plurality of light emitting elements 300. Detailed descriptions
thereof are referred to other drawings.
[0091] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion A of FIG. 1.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 2, the display device 10 according to an
embodiment may include a plurality of contact electrodes 260 and a
partition wall 400 (e.g., first to third partition walls 410, 420,
and 430).
[0093] The contact electrodes 260 may be respectively located to
partially overlap the first electrode expansion portion 210E and
the second electrode bending portion 220D. In an embodiment, the
contact electrode 260 may include a first contact electrode 261
contacting the first electrode expansion portion 210E and one end
of the light emitting element 300, and a second contact electrode
262 contacting the second electrode bending portion 220D and the
other end of the light emitting element 300.
[0094] The first contact electrode 261 may have a shape partially
extending along the outer surface of the first electrode expansion
portion 210E. The second contact electrode 262 may have a shape
partially extending along the outer surface of the second electrode
bending portion 220D. That is, in an embodiment, the first contact
electrode 261 and the second contact electrode 262 include
respective surfaces extending in the second direction DR2, and may
include respective surfaces extending in a direction other than the
second direction DR2. The first contact electrode 261 and the
second contact electrode 262 may be spaced apart from each other,
and may respectively transmit an electric signal received from each
of the electrodes 210 and 220 to the light emitting element 300.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the
display device 10 may include a larger number of contact electrodes
260. Also, the contact electrode 260 may be partially cut, and the
cut portions may be spaced apart from each other.
[0095] Each sub-pixel PXn may include at least one partition wall
400. Although FIG. 2 shows only a third partition wall 430 located
to surround the light emitting area LA, the display device 10
according to an embodiment may further include a first partition
wall 410 (shown in FIG. 4) and a second partition wall 420 (shown
in FIG. 4), which are respectively located under the first
electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending
portion 220D. First, the third partition wall 430 will be described
with reference to FIG. 2.
[0096] The third partition wall 430 may be located to surround the
light emitting area LA of each sub-pixel PXn. The third partition
wall 430 may be formed to distinguish the light emitting area LA
from the non-light emitting area NLA, and the plurality of light
emitting elements 300 may be located only in the light emitting
area LA in the process of manufacturing the display device 10. Some
areas of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220, that
is, a part of the first electrode stem 210S, a portion of the
second electrode stem 220S, a portion of the first electrode
extension portion 210C, and a portion of the second electrode
extension portion 220C, may be located on the third partition wall
430. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some
embodiments, when each of the electrodes 210 and 220 is formed
first, the third partition wall 430 is disposed on the electrodes
210 and 220, and they may partially overlap each other.
[0097] Meanwhile, the third partition wall 430 is entirely disposed
on each of the sub-pixels PXn, but may include opening areas (`QA1,
QA2, and QA3` of FIG. 6) exposed by the light emitting area LA and
disposed to surround the light emitting area LA. The shape of the
opening area of the third partition wall 430 may have a structure
corresponding to the shape of the light emitting area LA or each of
the electrodes 210 and 220 disposed in each sub-pixel PXn. Details
of the opening area of the third partition wall 430 will be
described later with reference to other drawings.
[0098] The first partition wall 410 and the second partition wall
420 may be formed to substantially overlap some regions of the
first electrode branch 2106 and the second electrode branch 220B.
For example, the first partition wall 410 may be located to overlap
some regions of the first electrode expansion portion 210E and the
first electrode extension portion 210C, and the second partition
wall 420 may be located to overlap some regions of the second
electrode bending portion 220D and the second electrode extension
portion 220C. The first partition wall 410 and the second partition
wall 420 may be formed to have substantially the same shapes as
those components that are respectively overlapped, and may protrude
upward. Thus, the regions of the first electrode 210 and the second
electrode 220, overlapping the first partition wall 410 and the
second partition wall 420, may protrude to have a thickness (e.g.,
a predetermined thickness). The first partition wall 410 and the
second partition wall 420 may function as reflective partition
walls such that light emitted from the light emitting element 300
located between the first electrode 210 and the second electrode
220 is reflected upward. Details of the plurality of partition
walls 400 will be described later with reference to cross-sectional
views.
[0099] Meanwhile, as described above, the plurality of light
emitting elements 300 may be arranged to have different alignment
directions. The display device 10 according to an embodiment
includes the light emitting elements 300 having various alignment
directions, thereby improving the visibility of the display device
10 depending on the alignment direction.
[0100] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the emission direction of
light emitted from light emitting elements included in the display
device according to an embodiment.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 3 together with FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the
first electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode
bending portion 220D according to an embodiment may include at
least one electrode surface ES. The first electrode expansion
portion 210E may include a first electrode surface ES1 extending in
the second direction DR2, and a second electrode surface ES2 and a
third electrode surface ES3 connected to respective ends of the
first electrode surface ES1 and extending in respective directions
that are different from the second direction DR2. The second
electrode surface ES2 extends in a fourth direction DR4, which is a
direction between the second direction DR2 and one side of the
first direction DR1, and the third electrode surface ES3 extends in
a third direction DR3, which is a direction between the second
direction DR2 and the other side of the first direction DR1.
[0102] The second electrode bending portion 220D may include a
fourth electrode surface ES4 extending in the second direction DR2,
spaced apart from the first electrode surface ES1 and facing the
first electrode surface ES1, and a fifth electrode surface ES5 and
a sixth electrode surface ES6 connected to respective ends of the
fourth electrode surface ES4 and extending in respective directions
that are different from the second direction DR2. The fifth
electrode surface ES5 is spaced apart from the second electrode
surface ES2, faces the second electrode surface ES2, and extends in
the fourth direction DR4. The sixth electrode surface ES6 is spaced
apart from the third electrode surface ES3, faces the third
electrode surface ES3, and extends in the third direction DR3.
[0103] One end of the light emitting element 300 may be located on
the first electrode expansion portion 210E, and the other end
thereof may be located on the second electrode bending portion
220D. In an embodiment, the light emitting elements 300 may include
a first light emitting element 301 located between the first
electrode surface ES1 and the fourth electrode surface ES4, a
second light emitting element 302 located between the second
electrode surface ES2 and the fifth electrode surface ES5, and a
third light emitting element 303 located between the third
electrode surface ES3 and the sixth electrode surface ES6.
[0104] In the first light emitting element 301, the second light
emitting element 302, and the third light emitting element 303, a
long axis crossing both of respective ends may extend, and may be
changed depending on the extending direction of each corresponding
electrode ES. For example, the first light emitting element 301 may
be located between the first electrode surface ES1 and the fourth
electrode surface ES4 so that one end thereof faces the first
direction DR1, the second light emitting element 302 may be located
between the second electrode surface ES2 and the fifth electrode
surface ES5 so that one end thereof faces the third direction DR3,
and the third light emitting element 303 may be located between the
third electrode surface ES3 and the sixth electrode surface ES6 so
that one end thereof faces the fourth direction DR4.
[0105] The first light emitting element 301, the second light
emitting element 302, and the third light emitting element 303 are
located between the first electrode expansion portion 210E and one
second electrode bending portion 220D. The fourth light emitting
element 304, the fifth light emitting element 305, and the sixth
light emitting element 306 are located between the first electrode
expansion portion 210E and another second electrode bending portion
220D. The fourth light emitting element 304 may be aligned in the
same direction as the first light emitting element 301, the fifth
light emitting element 305 may be aligned in the same direction as
the third light emitting element 303, and the sixth light emitting
element 306 may be aligned in the same direction as the second
light emitting element 302.
[0106] The light emitting element 300 to be described later with
reference to FIG. 5 may include a plurality of conductive
semiconductors and an active layer located therebetween, and light
may be emitted from side surfaces of both ends thereof. In the
display device 10 including the light emitting element 300, the
emission direction of light emitted from the light emitting element
300 may vary depending on the alignment direction of the light
emitting element 300. In the display device 10 according to an
embodiment, the plurality of light emitting elements 300 may have
different alignment directions from each other, thereby controlling
the emission direction of light emitted from the display device 10.
The first electrode expansion portion 210E includes electrodes
surfaces ES extending in a plurality of respective directions
instead of an electrode surface ES extending in only one direction,
thereby allowing the light emitting elements 300 of the display
device 10 to have various alignment directions. The first light
emitting element 301 is oriented such that its long axis has a
first angle .theta.1, which is a right angle or an acute angle
formed with respect to the second direction DR2, the second light
emitting element 302 is oriented such that its long axis has a
second angle .theta.2, which is an acute angle formed with respect
to the second direction DR2, and the third light emitting element
303 is oriented such that its long axis has a third angle .theta.3,
which is an acute angle formed with respect to the second direction
DR2.
[0107] In an embodiment, the first angle .theta.1 may have a larger
value than the second angle .theta.2. Because the long axis of the
first light emitting element 301 is oriented in the first direction
DR1, the first angle 81 may have a value substantially close to
90.degree.. In contrast, because the long axis of the second light
emitting element 302 and the third light emitting element 303 are
oriented in the third direction DR3 and the fourth direction DR4,
respectively, the second angle 02 and the third angle .theta.3 have
values that are smaller than 90.degree.. The respective light
emitting elements 300, for example, the first light emitting
element 301, the second light emitting element 302, and the third
light emitting element 303, may be aligned to be not in parallel
with each other, and the extending directions of respective long
axes thereof may cross each other.
[0108] Accordingly, the emission light L emitted from each light
emitting element 300 may be emitted in various directions. First
emission light L1 and fourth emission light L4 respectively emitted
from the first light emitting element 301 and the fourth light
emitting element 304 may be emitted in the first direction DR1
(e.g., in opposite directions with respect to the first direction
DR1). Second emission light L2 and sixth emission light L6
respectively emitted from the second light emitting element 302 and
the sixth light emitting element 306 may be emitted in the third
direction DR3 (e.g., in opposite directions with respect to the
third direction DR3). Third emission light L2 and fifth emission
light L5 respectively emitted from the third light emitting element
303 and the fifth light emitting element 305 may be emitted in the
fourth direction DR4 (e.g., in opposite directions with respect to
the fourth direction DR4).
[0109] In the display device 10 according to an embodiment, light
may be emitted from the light emitting area LA of each sub-pixel
PXn in various directions. For example, the light emitting area LA
of each sub-pixel PXn may include a plurality of domains DM
depending on the alignment direction of the corresponding light
emitting elements 300. The domains DM may include a first domain
DM1 located at one side of the light emitting area LA in the third
direction DR3 based on the center of the light emitting area LA, a
second domain DM2 located at one side of the light emitting area LA
in the fourth direction DR4 based on the center of the light
emitting area LA, a third domain DM3 located at the other side of
the light emitting area LA in the third direction DR3 based on the
center of the light emitting area LA, and a fourth domain DM4
located at the other side of the light emitting area LA in the
fourth direction DR4 based on the center of the light emitting area
LA.
[0110] The light emitting elements 300 aligned in different
directions are located in a respective domain DM, and may be
aligned in a direction in which each corresponding domain DM is
located, to thereby emit light. Because the first electrode 210
includes the first electrode expansion portion 210E, the light
emitting element 300 may have various alignment directions
according to the direction of the corresponding electrode surface
ES of the first electrode expansion portion 210E. Thus, in the
display device 10, light may be emitted from the light emitting
elements 300 evenly in any direction of the light emitting area LA,
and thus visibility according to the direction of the display
device 10 may be improved.
[0111] Meanwhile, although not shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of
insulating layers are located in each sub pixel PXn. The insulating
layers may include a first insulating layer 510, a second
insulating layer 520, and a passivation layer 550. In other
embodiments, the first insulating layer includes areas
corresponding to the first electrode branch 210B and the second
electrode branch 220B to entirely cover the sub-pixel PXn. The
first insulating layer 510 may protect the electrodes 210 and 220,
and may insulate the electrodes 210 and 220 from each other such
that the electrodes 210 and 220 are not in direct contact with each
other.
[0112] The second insulating layer 520 is located on the first
insulating layer 510, and at least a portion of the second
insulating layer 520 is located to partially overlap each of the
electrode branches 210B and 220B.
[0113] The display device 10 may include a circuit element layer
located under the electrodes 210 and 220 shown in FIG. 2.
Hereinafter, a structure of the display device 10 will be described
in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0114] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Q1-Q1'
of FIG. 2
[0115] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the first sub-pixel
PX1, but may be similarly applied to other pixels PX or sub-pixels
PXn. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section across one end and the other end
of any light emitting element 300.
[0116] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the display device 10 may
include a substrate 110, a buffer layer 115, a light blocking layer
BML, a first transistor 120, and a plurality of electrodes 210 and
220 located on the first transistor 120, and a light emitting
element 300. The first transistor 120 may include a first active
material layer 126, a first gate electrode 121, a first drain
electrode 123, and a first source electrode 124. The first
transistor 120 may be a driving transistor that transmits an
electrical signal to the first electrode 210 of the display device
10. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the
display device 10 may include a larger number of transistors.
[0117] The substrate 110 may be an insulating substrate. The
substrate 110 may be made of an insulating material such as glass,
quartz, or polymer resin. The substrate 110 may be a rigid
substrate, but may also be a flexible substrate capable of bending,
folding, rolling, and the like.
[0118] The light blocking layer BML may be located on the substrate
110. The light blocking layer BML may be electrically connected to
the first drain electrode 123 of the first transistor 120 to be
described later.
[0119] The light blocking layer BML is located to overlap the first
active material layer 126 of the first transistor 120. The light
blocking layer BML may include a material that blocks light,
thereby reducing or preventing light from being incident on the
first active material layer 126. For example, the light blocking
layer BML may be formed of an opaque metal material that blocks the
transmission of light. Unlike FIG. 4, the display device 10 may
include a larger number of light blocking layers BML. Although it
is shown in the drawings that one first transistor 122 is located,
the display device 10 may include a larger number of transistors.
Thus, the display device 10 may further include a light blocking
layer BML overlapping the active material layer of another
transistor.
[0120] The buffer layer 115 is located on the light blocking layer
BML and the substrate 110. The buffer layer 115 may be located to
entirely cover both the substrate 110 and the light blocking layer
BML. The buffer layer 115 may reduce or prevent the diffusion of
impurity ions, may reduce or prevent the penetration of moisture or
external air, and may perform a surface planarization function. The
buffer layer 115 may insulate the light blocking layer BML and the
first active material layer 126 from each other.
[0121] A semiconductor layer is located on the buffer layer 115.
The semiconductor layer may include the first active material layer
126 of the first transistor 120. However, the present disclosure is
not limited thereto, and the semiconductor layer may further
include an active material layer of another transistor of the
display device 10. The semiconductor layer may include
polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, or oxide
semiconductor.
[0122] The first gate insulating layer 170 is located on the
semiconductor layer. The first gate insulating layer 170 may be
located to entirely cover both the buffer layer 115 and the
semiconductor layer. The first gate insulating layer 170 may
function as a gate insulating film of the first transistor 120.
[0123] A first conductive layer is located on the first gate
insulating layer 170. The first conductive layer may include a
first gate electrode 121 located on the first active material layer
126 of the first transistor 120 on the first gate insulating layer
170.
[0124] An interlayer insulating layer 190 is located on the first
conductive layer. The interlayer insulating layer 190 may function
as an interlayer insulating film. The interlayer insulating layer
190 may include an organic insulating material and may perform a
surface planarization function.
[0125] A second conductive layer is located on the interlayer
insulating layer 190. The second conductive layer includes the
first drain electrode 123 and first source electrode 124 of the
first transistor 120.
[0126] The first drain electrode 123 and the first source electrode
124 may be electrically connected to the first active material
layer 126 through a respective contact hole penetrating the
interlayer insulating layer 190 and the first gate insulating layer
170. The first drain electrode 123 may be electrically connected to
the light blocking layer BML through another contact hole.
[0127] A via layer 200 is located on the second conductive layer.
The via layer 200 may include an organic insulating material, and
may perform a surface planarization function.
[0128] A plurality of partition walls 400 and a plurality of
electrodes 210 and 220 are located on the via layer 200. Some of
the partition walls 400 may be located at a boundary of each
sub-pixel PXn and spaced apart from each other.
[0129] The partition walls 400 may be spaced apart from each other
in each sub-pixel PXn. The partition walls 400 may include a first
partition wall 410 and a second partition wall 420, which are
located adjacent to the center of the sub-pixel PXn, and a third
partition wall 430 that is located in some regions of the sub-pixel
PXn and at a boundary thereof.
[0130] The third partition wall 430 may be a partition that defines
a boundary of each sub-pixel PXn. The third partition wall 430 may
be located to extend in the first direction DR1 and in the second
direction DR2 at the boundary of each sub-pixel PXn to form one
grid pattern. The third partition wall 430 may be formed to define
each sub-pixel PXn and to reduce or prevent the color mixing of
light emitted from each sub-pixel PXn.
[0131] The third partition wall 430 may also be located in the
non-light emitting area NLA, which is other than the light emitting
area LA of each sub-pixel PXn. That is, the third partition wall
430 may define the boundary of each sub-pixel PXn, and may define
the light emitting area LA and the non-light emitting area NLA in
each sub-pixel PXn. As will be described later, when manufacturing
the display device 10, the light emitting element 300 may be
aligned on an electrode by spraying an organic material or a
solvent using inkjet printing. The third partition wall 430 may
surround the first electrode expansion portion 210E and second
electrode bending portion 220D located in each sub pixel PXn, and
may function to reduce or prevent the organic material or the
solvent from invading the boundary of the light emitting area LA.
Thus, the light emitting element 300 may be aligned between the
first electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode
bending portion 220D, and may form the light emitting area LA.
[0132] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, when the display device 10
further includes another member, the member may be located on the
third partition wall 430 such that the third partition wall 430 may
function to support the member.
[0133] The first partition wall 410 and the second partition wall
420 are spaced apart from each other on the via layer 200 to face
each other. The first partition wall 410 and the second partition
wall 420 may serve as reflective partition walls for reflecting
light emitted from the light emitting element 300 toward the upper
portion of the display device 10. Each sub-pixel PXn may include a
different number of first and second partition walls 410 and 420.
As shown in the drawing, the first partition wall 410 may face the
second partition walls 420 located to be respectively spaced apart
from opposing sides of the first partition wall 410. As described
above, because one first electrode expansion portion 210E and two
second electrode bending portions 220D are located in the light
emitting area LA of each sub-pixel PXn, one first partition wall
410 and two second partition walls 420 may be located in an area
corresponding thereto. However, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto, and a larger number of the first partition walls
410 and a larger number of the second partition walls 420 may be
provided depending on the number of the electrodes 210 and 220
located in each sub-pixel PXn.
[0134] A portion of the first electrode 210, for example, a portion
of the first electrode expansion portion 210E and a portion of the
first electrode extension portion 210C, may be located on the first
partition wall 410. A portion of the second electrode 220, for
example, a portion of the second electrode bending portion 220D and
a portion of the second electrode extension portion 220C, may be
located on the second partition wall 420. It is understood that the
first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 located on the
first partition wall 410 and the second partition wall 420 of FIG.
4 are the first electrode expansion portion 210E and the second
electrode bending portion 220D, respectively.
[0135] An electrode contact hole CNTD, which penetrates the first
partition wall 410 and the via layer 200 to expose a portion of the
upper surface of the first drain electrode 123 of the first
transistor 120, may be formed in the first partition wall 410. The
electrode contact hole CNTD may be formed in an area overlapping
the first electrode expansion portion 210E of the first partition
wall 410, and some regions of the first partition wall 410 may be
separated from each other by the electrode contact hole CNTD. The
first electrode expansion portion 210E may be electrically
connected to the first transistor 120 of the circuit element layer
through the electrode contact hole CNTD formed in the first
partition wall 410.
[0136] The first partition wall 410, the second partition wall 420,
and the third partition wall 430 may be formed in substantially the
same process. The first partition wall 410, the second partition
wall 420, and the third partition wall 430 may have a structure in
which at least a part thereof protrudes upward from the via layer
200. The first partition wall 410, the second partition wall 420,
and the third partition wall 430 may protrude upward based on the
plane where the light emitting element 300 is located, and at least
a portion of the protruding portions may have an inclination. The
shapes of the first partition wall 410, the second partition wall
420, and the third partition wall 430, which have the protruding
portions or protruding structure, are not particularly limited.
These partition walls need not be formed to have the same step. In
an embodiment, the third partition wall 430 may be formed to have a
height that is greater than that of the first partition wall 410
and/or the second partition wall 420. In some embodiments, the
first partition wall 410 and the second partition wall 420 may be
omitted. The plurality of partition walls 400 may include polyimide
(PI).
[0137] The electrodes 210 and 220 are located on the first
partition wall 410 and the second partition wall 420. In some
embodiments, some regions of the electrodes 210 and 220, for
example, parts of the first electrode stem 210S and the second
electrode stem 220S and parts of the first electrode extension
portion 210C and the second electrode extension portion 220C, may
be located on the third partition wall 430.
[0138] The first electrode 210 is located to cover the first
partition wall 410, and the second electrode 220 is located to
cover the second partition wall 420. The first electrode 210 on the
first partition wall 410 may be the first electrode expansion
portion 210E, and may be electrically connected to the first
transistor 120 through the electrode contact hole CNTD. The second
electrode 220 on the second partition wall 420 may be the second
electrode bending portion 220D.
[0139] Each of the electrodes 210 and 220 may be formed as one
layer as shown in the drawing. In an embodiment, the electrodes 210
and 220 may include a conductive material having high reflectance.
The electrodes 210 and 220 may transmit the electrical signals
transmitted from the circuit element layer to the light emitting
element 300, and may concurrently reflect the light emitted from
the light emitting element 300 through the first partition wall 410
and the second partition wall 420. In an embodiment, each of the
electrodes 210 and 220 may be made of an alloy containing aluminum
(Al), nickel (Ni), or lanthanum (La). However, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto, and each of the electrodes 210
and 220 may be formed as a plurality of layers, and may include a
material such as silver (Ag), copper (Cu), indium tin oxide (ITO),
indium zinc oxide (IZO), or indium tin-zinc oxide (ITZO). For
example, each of the electrodes 210 and 220 may be formed to have a
laminate structure of Ag/ITO/IZO.
[0140] The first insulating layer 510 is located to partially cover
the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220. The first
insulating layer 510 may be located to cover most of the upper
surfaces of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220,
and may also expose a portion of the first electrode 210 and a
portion of the second electrode 220. The first insulating layer 510
may be located in an area where the first electrode 210 and the
second electrode 220 are spaced apart from each other, and in an
area between the first electrode 210 and the third partition wall
430, and also in an area between the second electrode 220 and the
third partition wall 430. The first insulating layer 510 located
between the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may
extend in the second direction DR2 on a plane to have a linear or
island shape. A portion of the first insulating layer 510 located
on the first electrode 210 may also be located in the electrode
contact hole CNTD.
[0141] The first insulating layer 510 is located to partially
expose the relative flat upper surfaces of the first electrode 210
and the second electrode 220, and is located to overlap the
inclined side surfaces of the first partition wall 410 and the
second partition wall 420. The first insulating layer 510 forms a
flat upper surface such that the light emitting element 300 may be
located thereon, and the flat upper surface extends toward the
first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 in one direction.
An extending portion of the first insulating layer 510 terminates
at the inclined side surfaces of the first electrode 210 and the
second electrode 220. Accordingly, the contact electrode 260 may be
in contact with the exposed first electrode 210 and second
electrode 220, and may be smoothly in contact with the light
emitting element 300 on the flat upper surface of the first
insulating layer 510.
[0142] The first insulating layer 510 may protect the first
electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 and may insulate them
from each other. Further, the first insulating layer 510 may reduce
or prevent damage to the light emitting element 300 located on the
first insulating layer 510 otherwise caused by contact with other
members. However, the shape and structure of the first insulating
layer 510 are not limited thereto.
[0143] In some cases, the light emitting element 300 may be located
on the first insulating layer 510. At least one light emitting
element 300 may be located on the first insulating layer 510
located between the respective electrode branches 210B and 220B.
Both ends of the light emitting element 300 may form a surface
substantially parallel to both ends of the underlying first
insulating layer 510. The light emitting element 300 may be located
such that a part thereof overlaps the electrodes 210 and 220. The
light emitting element 300 may be located on each end where the
first electrode expansion portion 210E and the second electrode
bending portion 220D face each other, and may be electrically
connected to each of the electrodes 210 and 220 through the contact
electrode 260.
[0144] Meanwhile, the light emitting element 300 may be configured
such that a plurality of layers are located in a direction
horizontal to the via layer 200. The light emitting element 300 of
the display device 10 according to an embodiment may include the
aforementioned conductive semiconductor and active layer, and these
conductive semiconductor and active layer may be sequentially
located in a direction horizontal to the via layer 200. The light
emitting element 300 may be configured such that the first
conductive semiconductor 310, the active layer 330, the second
conductive semiconductor 320, and the conductive electrode layer
370 may be sequentially located in a direction horizontal to the
via layer 200 (e.g., see FIG. 5). However, the present disclosure
is not limited thereto. The order in which the plurality of layers
of the light emitting element 300 are arranged may be reversed, and
in some case, the plurality of layers may instead be arranged in a
direction perpendicular to the via layer 200 when the light
emitting element 300 has a different structure.
[0145] The second insulating layer 520 may be partially located on
the first insulating layer 510 and the light emitting element 300.
The second insulating layer 520 may function to protect the light
emitting element 300 and to fix, or secure, the light emitting
element 300 in the process of manufacturing the display device 10.
The second insulating layer 520 may be located to surround or
partially surround the outer surface of the light emitting element
300. That is, in some embodiments, some of the materials of the
second insulating layer 520 may be located between the lower
surface of the light emitting element 300 and the first insulating
layer 510. The second insulating layer 520 may extend in the second
direction DR2 between the first electrode branch 210B and the
second electrode branch 220B in a plan view, and may have an island
or linear shape.
[0146] Further, a portion of the second insulating layer 520 may be
located in the electrode contact hole CNTD of the first partition
wall 410, and may also be located on the first insulating layer
510. In an embodiment, the second insulating layer 520 may include
an organic insulating layer, and may reduce or minimize the step
that is formed by the electrode contact hole CNTD of the first
partition wall 410. As shown in the drawings, the second insulating
layer 520 located in the electrode contact hole CNTD may planarize
the upper surfaces of the first electrode 210 and the first
insulating layer 510 on the first partition wall 410.
[0147] The contact electrode 260 is located on each of the
electrodes 210 and 220, the first insulating layer 510, and the
second insulating layer 520. The first contact electrode 261 and
the second contact electrode 262 are spaced apart from each other
on the second insulating layer 520 covering the light emitting
element 300. Accordingly, the second insulating layer 520 may
insulate the first contact electrode 261 and the second contact
electrode 262 from each other.
[0148] The first contact electrode 261 may be in contact with at
least the first insulating layer 510, the first electrode 210 that
is exposed by patterning the first insulating layer 510, and one
end of the light emitting element 300. The second contact electrode
262 may be in contact with at least the second electrode 220 that
is exposed by patterning the first insulating layer 510, and with
the other end of the light emitting element 300. The first contact
electrode 261 and the second contact electrode 262 may be in
contact with respective end side surfaces of the light emitting
element 300, for example, with the first conductive semiconductor
310, the second conductive semiconductor 320, or the conductive
electrode layer 370. As described above, the first insulating layer
510 may form a flat upper surface, so that the contact electrode
260 may be smoothly in contact with the side surface of the light
emitting element 300 located on the flat upper surface of the first
insulating layer 510.
[0149] The contact electrode 260 may include a conductive material.
For example, the contact electrode 260 may include ITO, IZO, ITZO,
or aluminum (Al). However, the material of the contact electrode
260 is not limited thereto.
[0150] The passivation layer 550 is located on the partition wall
400, the first insulating layer 510, the second insulating layer
520, and the contact electrode 260. The passivation layer 550 may
function to protect members located on the via layer 200 from
external environments.
[0151] Each of the first insulating layer 510, the second
insulating layer 520, and the passivation layer 550 may include an
inorganic insulating material or an organic insulating material. In
an embodiment, each of the first insulating layer 510, the second
insulating layer 520, and the passivation layer 550 may include an
inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon
nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), aluminum oxide
(Al.sub.2O.sub.3), or aluminum nitride (AlN). Further, each of the
first insulating layer 510, the second insulating layer 520, and
the passivation layer 550 may include an organic insulating
material, such as acrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin,
polyamide resin, polyimide resin, unsaturated polyester resin,
polyphenylene resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, benzocyclobutene,
cardo resin, siloxane resin, silsesquioxane resin, polymethyl
methacrylate, polycarbonate, or polymethyl
methacrylate-polycarbonate synthetic resin. However, the material
thereof is not limited thereto.
[0152] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a light emitting element
according to an embodiment.
[0153] The light emitting element 300 may be a light emitting
diode. For example, the light emitting element 300 may be an
inorganic light emitting diode having a size of about a micrometer
or about a nanometer, and may be made of an inorganic material.
[0154] When an electric field is formed between two electrodes
facing each other (e.g., facing each other in a predetermined
direction), the organic light emitting diode may be aligned between
the two electrodes having polarity. The light emitting element 300
may be aligned between the two electrodes according to the electric
field formed on the two electrodes.
[0155] The light emitting element 300 may have a shape extending in
one direction. The light emitting element 300 may have a shape of a
nanorod, a nanowire, a nanotube, or the like. In an embodiment, the
light emitting element 300 may have a cylindrical shape or a rod
shape. However, the shape of the light emitting element 300 is not
limited thereto, and the light emitting element 300 may have
various shapes such as a cube, a cuboid, and a hexagonal column. A
plurality of semiconductors included in the light emitting element
300 to be described later may be sequentially arranged or stacked
in one direction.
[0156] The light emitting element 300 may include semiconductor
crystals doped with any conductive type (for example, p-type or
n-type) impurity. The semiconductor crystals may receive an
electrical signal applied from an external power source, and may
emit the electrical signal as light of a given wavelength band.
[0157] The light emitting element 300 according to an embodiment
may emit light of a given wavelength band. In an embodiment, the
light emitted from an active layer 330 may emit blue light having a
central wavelength band of about 450 nm to about 495 nm. However,
the central wavelength band of the blue light is not limited to the
above range, and should be understood to include all wavelength
ranges that can be recognized as blue in the art. Further, the
light emitted from the active layer 330 of the light emitting
element 300 is not limited thereto, and also may be green light
having a central wavelength band of about 495 nm to about 570 nm,
or may be red light having a central wavelength band of about 620
nm to about 750 nm.
[0158] Meanwhile, the light emitting element 300 according to an
embodiment may include a first conductive semiconductor 310, a
second conductive semiconductor 320, an active layer 330, and an
insulating film 380. The light emitting element 300 according to an
embodiment may further include at least one conductive electrode
layer 370. Although it is shown in FIG. 5 that the light emitting
element 300 further includes one conductive electrode layer 370,
the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some cases, the
light emitting element 300 may include a larger number of
conductive electrode layers 370, or the conductive electrode layer
370 may be omitted. Description of the light emitting element 300
to be described later may be equally applied even if the number of
the conductive electrode layers 370 is different, or even if the
light emitting element 300 further includes other structures.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 5, the first conductive semiconductor 310
may be, for example, an n-type semiconductor having a first
conductive type. For example, when the light emitting element 300
emits light of a blue wavelength band, the first conductive
semiconductor 310 may include a semiconductor material having a
chemical formula of Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.1-x-yN
(0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.x+y.ltoreq.1).
For example, the semiconductor material may be at least one of
AlGaInN, GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, AlN, and InN, each being doped with
n-type impurities. The first conductive semiconductor 310 may be
doped with a first conductive dopant. The first conductive dopant
may be, for example, Si, Ge, or Sn. In an embodiment, the first
conductive semiconductor 310 may be n-GaN doped with n-type Si. The
length of the first conductive semiconductor 310 may have a range
of about 1.5 .mu.m to about 5 .mu.m, but is not limited
thereto.
[0160] The second conductive semiconductor 320 is located on the
active layer 330 to be described later. The second conductive
semiconductor 320 may be, for example, a p-type semiconductor
having a second conductive type. For example, when the light
emitting element 300 emits light of a blue wavelength band or a
green wavelength band, the second conductive semiconductor 320 may
include a semiconductor material having a chemical formula of
Al.sub.xGa.sub.yIn.sub.1-x-yN (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.x1,
0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.x+y.ltoreq.1). For example, the
semiconductor material may be at least one of AlGaInN, GaN, AlGaN,
InGaN, AlN, and InN, each being doped with p-type impurities. The
second conductive semiconductor 320 may be doped with a second
conductive dopant. The second conductive dopant may be, for
example, Mg, Zn, Ca, Se, or Ba. In an embodiment, the second
conductive semiconductor 320 may be p-GaN doped with p-type Mg. The
length of the second conductive semiconductor 320 may have a range
of about 0.08 .mu.m to about 0.25 .mu.m, but is not limited
thereto.
[0161] Meanwhile, although it is shown in FIG. 5 that each of the
first conductive semiconductor 310 and the second conductive
semiconductor 320 is formed as one layer, the present disclosure is
not limited thereto. In some cases, each of the first conductive
semiconductor 310 and the second conductive semiconductor 320 may
further include a larger number of layers, for example, clad layers
or tensile strain barrier reducing (TSBR) layers.
[0162] The active layer 330 is located between the first conductive
semiconductor 310 and the second conductive semiconductor 320. The
active layer 330 may include a material of a single or multiple
quantum well structure. When the active layer 330 includes a
material of a multiple quantum well structure, the active layer 330
may have a structure in which quantum layers and well layers are
alternately laminated. The active layer 330 may emit light by the
combination of electron-hole pairs according to an electrical
signal(s) applied through the first conductive semiconductor 310
and the second conductive semiconductor 320. For example, when the
active layer 330 emits light of a blue wavelength band, the active
layer 330 may include a material such as AlGaN or AlGaInN. For
example, when the active layer 330 has a multiple quantum well
structure in which quantum layers and well layers are alternately
laminated, the quantum wells may include a material such as AlGaN
or AlGaInN, and the well layers may include a material such as GaN
or AlInN. In an embodiment, the active layer 330 includes quantum
wells each containing AlGaInN and well layers each containing
AlInN, and thus the active layer 330 may emit blue light having a
central wavelength band of about 450 nm to about 495 nm as
described above.
[0163] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and
the active layer 330 may have a structure in which semiconductor
materials having high bandgap energy, and semiconductor materials
having low bandgap energy, are alternately laminated, and may
include other group 3 to group 5 semiconductor materials depending
on the wavelength band of light. The light emitted from the active
layer 330 is not limited to light of a blue wavelength band, and in
some cases, the active layer 330 may emit light of a red or green
wavelength band. The length of the active layer 330 may have a
range of about 0.05 .mu.m to about 0.25 .mu.m, but is not limited
thereto.
[0164] Meanwhile, the light emitted from the active layer 330 may
be emitted to both side surfaces of the light emitting element 300,
as well as to the longitudinal outer surface of the light emitting
element 300. The direction of the light emitted from the active
layer 330 is not limited to one direction.
[0165] The conductive electrode layer 370 may be an ohmic contact
electrode. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto,
and the conductive electrode layer 370 may be a Schottky contact
electrode. For example, the conductive electrode layer 370 may
include at least one of aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), indium (In),
gold (Au), silver (Ag), indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide
(IZO), and indium tin-zinc oxide (ITZO). The conductive electrode
layer 370 may include a semiconductor material doped with n-type or
p-type impurities. The conductive electrode layer 370 may include
the same material, and may include different materials from each
other, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0166] The insulating film 380 is located to surround the outer
surfaces of the plurality of semiconductors described above. In an
embodiment, the insulating film 380 may be located to surround at
least the outer surface of the active layer 330, and may extend in
one direction in which the light emitting element 300 extends. The
insulating film 380 may function to protect the members described
above. For example, the insulating film 380 may be formed to
surround the side surfaces of the members (e.g., the first
conductive semiconductor 310, the active layer 330, the second
conductive semiconductor 320, and/or the conductive electrode layer
370), and may be formed such that both ends of the light emitting
element 300 in a length direction are exposed therethrough.
[0167] Although it is shown in FIG. 5 that the insulating film 380
may extend in the length direction of the light emitting element
300 to cover the first conductive semiconductor 310 to the
conductive electrode layer 370, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto. The insulating film 380 may cover only the outer
surface of a portion of the conductive semiconductor as well as the
active layer 330, or may cover only a portion of the outer surface
of the conductive electrode layer 370 to expose a portion of the
outer surface of the conductive electrode layer 370.
[0168] The thickness of the insulating film 380 may have a range of
about 10 nm to about 1.0 .mu.m, but is not limited thereto. For
example, the thickness of the insulating film 380 may be 40 nm.
[0169] The insulating film 380 may include a material having
insulating properties, for example, silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon
nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), aluminum nitride
(AlN), or aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). Thus, the active layer
330 may reduce or prevent an electrical short that may otherwise
occur when the active layer 330 is in direct contact with an
electrode through which an electrical signal is transmitted to the
light emitting element 300. Further, because the insulating film
380 protects the outer surface of the light emitting element 300 as
well as the active layer 330, it is possible to reduce or prevent
the deterioration in light emission efficiency.
[0170] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the insulating
film 380 may be surface-treated. When manufacturing the display
device 10, the light emitting elements 300 may be aligned by being
sprayed onto the electrodes in a state in which they are dispersed
in an ink (e.g., a predetermined ink). Here, the surface of the
insulating film 380 may be hydrophobically or hydrophilically
treated to maintain the light emitting elements 300 in a dispersed
state without being aggregated with other adjacent light emitting
elements 300 in the ink.
[0171] Meanwhile, the length h of the light emitting element 300
may have a range of about 1 .mu.m to about 10 .mu.m, or of about 2
.mu.m to about 6 .mu.m, or even of about 4 .mu.m to about 5 .mu.m.
The diameter of the light emitting element 300 may have a range of
about 300 nm to about 700 nm, and the aspect ratio of the light
emitting element 300 may have a range of about 1.2 to about 100.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the
plurality of light emitting elements 300 included in the display
device 10 may have different diameters according to the composition
difference of the active layer 330. For example, the diameter of
the light emitting element 300 may have a range of about 500
nm.
[0172] FIGS. 6 to 15 are schematic view showing a process of
manufacturing a display device according to an embodiment.
[0173] First, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of partition
walls 400 are formed on the via layer 200. FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line Q2-Q2' of FIG. 6. The
plurality of partition walls 400 may include a first partition wall
410, a second partition wall 420, and a third partition wall 430,
and the third partition wall 430 may be located to surround the
light emitting area LA of each sub-pixel PXn. That is, the third
partition wall 430 may be substantially located in the non-light
emitting area NLA. The third partition wall 430 may also be located
at the boundary of each sub-pixel PXn.
[0174] The first partition wall 410 and the second partition wall
420 are formed to overlap some regions of the first electrode
expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending portion
220D, and to overlap some regions of the first electrode extension
portion 210C and the second electrode extension portion 220C in the
light emitting area LA of each sub-pixel PXn, respectively. As
described above, the first partition wall 410 and the second
partition wall 420 are formed to have the same shape as some
respective regions of the first electrode expansion portion 210E
and the second electrode bending portion 220D and some respective
regions of the first electrode extension portion 210C and the
second electrode extension portion 220C. For example, because the
second sub-pixel PX2 includes two light emitting areas LA, the
second sub-pixel PX2 may be provided with a larger number of the
first partition walls 410 and the second partition walls 420 as
compared with each of the first sub-pixel PX1 and the third
sub-pixel PX3. The first partition wall 410 and second partition
wall 420 of the second sub-pixel PX2 may be spaced apart from each
other between the light emitting areas LA. Because detailed
description of such a structure is the same as that described
above, it will be omitted.
[0175] Meanwhile, as described above, the third partition wall 430
may be entirely disposed on the plurality of sub-pixels PXn, and
may include opening areas OA1,OA2, and OA3 exposing the light
emitting areas LA of the sub-pixels PXn. For example, the third
partition wall 430 may include a first opening area OA1 exposing
the light emitting area LA of the first sub-pixel PX1, a second
opening area OA2 exposing the light emitting area LA of the second
sub-pixel PX2, and a third opening area OA3 exposing the light
emitting area LA of the third sub-pixel PX3. Each of the opening
areas OA1, OA2, and OA3 is a portion in which the light emitting
elements 300 are disposed in the sub-pixel PXn, and may be disposed
corresponding to the first electrode extension portion 210E.
Further, as described above, the third partition wall 430 may be
formed to have a greater height than each of the first partition
wall 410 and the second partition wall 420.
[0176] Although it is shown in the drawings that only the first
sub-pixel PX1, the second sub-pixel PX2, and the third sub-pixel
PX3 are provided, in other embodiments other sub-pixels PXn may be
provided. Hereinafter, the first sub-pixel PX1, the second
sub-pixel PX2, and the third sub-pixel PX3 will be described as an
example.
[0177] Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a first electrode 210 and
a second electrode 220 are formed on the plurality of partition
walls 400. The first electrode 210 includes a first electrode stem
210S and a first electrode branch 2106, and for example, the first
electrode branch 210B includes a first electrode expansion portion
210E and a first electrode extension portion 210C. The first
electrode expansion portion 210E and a portion of the first
electrode extension portion 210C may be located on the first
partition wall 410, and the first electrode stem 210S and another
portion of the first electrode extension portion 210C may be
located on the third partition wall 430.
[0178] The second electrode 220 includes a second electrode stem
220S and a second electrode branch 220B, and for example, the
second electrode branch 220B includes a second electrode bending
portion 220D and a second electrode extension portion 220C. The
second electrode bending portion 220D and a portion of the second
electrode extension portion 220C may be located on the second
partition wall 420, and the second electrode stem 220S and another
portion of the second electrode extension portion 220C may be
located on the third partition wall 430.
[0179] Alternatively, in an embodiment in which the electrodes 210
and 220 are formed prior to the third partition wall 430, the other
part of the second electrode extension portion 220C and the second
electrode stem 220S may be disposed under the third partition wall
430.
[0180] In an embodiment, each of the opening areas OA1, OA2, and
OA3 of the third partition wall 430 may have a structure
corresponding to the shape of each of the electrodes 210 and 220
disposed in each sub-pixel PXn in a plan view. For example, the
first opening area OA1 may comprise a first opening portion P1 in
which the first electrode extension portion 210C is disposed, a
second opening portion P2 in which the first electrode expansion
portion 210E is disposed and a width of which in one direction is
greater than a width of the first opening portion P1 in one
direction, and a third opening portion P3 which connects the first
opening portion P1 and the second opening portion P2 and a width of
which becomes narrower. As described above, the first electrode 210
may comprise the first electrode expansion portion 210E and the
first electrode extension portion 210C, and may have a shape in
which a width is partially enlarged. The first electrode extension
portions 210C are disposed at both sides of the first electrode
extension portion 210E in the second direction DR2, and the width
of the area where the electrodes 210 and 220 are disposed may be
relatively narrow at the portion where the first electrode
extension portions 210C are disposed. Each of the opening areas
OA1, OA2, and OA3 of the third partition wall 430 may comprise
portions whose width is changed according to the shape of the first
electrode 210.
[0181] A part of the second electrode extension portion 220C and
the second electrode bending portion 220D may be disposed
corresponding to the shape of the first electrode extension portion
210E, and may be disposed in the opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3 of
the third partition wall 430. For example, in the second electrode
extension portion 220C, a portion spaced apart from the first
electrode expansion portion 210E and a portion extending to the
first electrode extension portion 210C may be partially disposed in
the opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3, and the second electrode
bending portion 220D may be disposed in the opening areas OA1, OA2,
and OA3. At least a part of the second electrode extension portion
220C and at least a part of the second electrode bending portion
220D may be disposed between the first electrode 210 and the third
partition wall 430 in a cross-sectional view.
[0182] As described above, the respective sub-pixels PXn may have
different electrode structures or light emitting areas LA from each
other. For example, the first sub-pixel PX1 may be provided with
one first electrode expansion portion 210E to form one light
emitting area LA, and the second sub-pixel PX2 may be provided with
a plurality of first electrode expansion portion 210E or two first
electrode expansion portion 210E to form two light emitting areas
LA. Accordingly, the shape and arrangement of the opening areas
OA1, OA2, and OA3 of the third partition wall 430 may also be
changed.
[0183] In an embodiment, the third partition wall 430 may comprise
a first opening area OA1 exposing the light emitting area LA of the
first sub-pixel PX1, a second opening area OA2 exposing the light
emitting area LA of the second sub-pixel PX2, and a third opening
area OA3 exposing the light emitting area LA of the third sub-pixel
PX3. The first opening area OA1 and the third opening area OA3 may
comprise one second opening portion P2, and the second opening area
OA2 may comprise a plurality of second opening portions P2 spaced
apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The plurality of
second opening portions P2 may be connected to the second opening
area OA2 through the first opening portion P1. The opening areas
OA1, OA2, and OA3 of the third partition wall 430 may have
structures corresponding to the shape of the light emitting area LA
in which the light emitting elements 300 are disposed, or the
shapes of the electrodes 210 and 220, and the structures of the
opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3 disposed in the respective
sub-pixels PXn may be different from each other.
[0184] Further, in the display device 10, sub-pixels each provided
with one first electrode expansion portion 210E (for example, the
first pixels and the third sub-pixels) and sub-pixels each provided
with two first electrode expansion portions 210E (for example, the
second sub-pixels) are alternately arranged, so that, in the
opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3 of the third partition wall 430,
the first opening areas OA1 and the third opening areas OA3, and
the second opening areas OA2 may also be alternately arranged along
the first direction DR1.
[0185] Meanwhile, the third partition wall 430 may also be disposed
between the neighboring sub-pixels PXn. A portion of the third
partition wall 430, the portion being disposed between the
sub-pixels PXn, may also have a structure corresponding to the
shape of each of the electrodes 210 and 220. In an embodiment, the
third partition wall 430 may be disposed between the neighboring
sub-pixels PXn, and may comprise a partition wall extension portion
BE extending in the second direction DR corresponding to the first
surface of the first electrode expansion portion 210E and a
partition wall bending portion BE extending in the third direction
DR3 or the fourth direction DR4 corresponding to the second surface
of the first electrode expansion portion 210E. As the partition
wall extension portion BE and the partition wall bending portion BB
have structures corresponding to the shapes of the electrodes 210
and 220, their positions may be changed depending on the width of
each of the opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3.
[0186] In an exemplary embodiment, the partition wall extension
portion BE may be disposed corresponding to the second opening
portion P2 of the opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3, and the
partition wall bending portion BB may be disposed corresponding to
the third opening portion P3 thereof. The first opening portion P1,
the second opening portion P2, and the third opening portion P3 of
the third partition wall 430 may have different widths. Since the
widths of the first opening portion P1 and the second opening
portion P2 are constant, the partition wall extension portion BE
may be disposed in the corresponding portion. Since the third
opening portion P3 connects the first opening portion P1 and the
second opening portion P2 and the width thereof becomes narrower,
the partition wall bending portion BB may be disposed in the
corresponding portion. For example, in the third partition wall 430
disposed between the first sub-pixel PX1 and the second sub-pixel
PX2, the partition wall extension portion BE and the partition wall
bending portion BB are disposed corresponding to the first
electrode expansion portion 210E disposed in the first sub-pixel
PX1, and they may be disposed between the second opening portion P2
of the first opening area OA1 and the first opening portion P1
connecting the second opening portion P2 of the second opening area
OA2. The partition wall extension portion BE and the partition wall
bending portion BB may be disposed to distinguish an area between
the light emitting areas LA of the first and third sub-pixels PX1
and PX3 in which one first electrode expansion portion 210E is
disposed and the light emitting areas LA of the second sub-pixel
PX2 in which two first electrode expansion portion 210E are
disposed. As shown in the drawing, the third partition wall 430 may
disposed over the plurality of sub-pixels PXn and may comprise the
opening areas OA1, OA2, and OA3 so as to expose the light emitting
areas LA of each of the sub-pixels PXn, and the third partition
wall 430 may distinguish the light emitting areas LA of each of the
sub-pixels PXn.
[0187] In the process of manufacturing the display device 10, the
first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may be initially
integrally formed without the respective sub-pixels PXn or the
electrode stems and branches being separated from each other, and
then may be disconnected in subsequent processes. As shown in FIG.
8, the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may form
one electrode line without being separated from each other.
[0188] Next, a first insulating material layer 511 covering the
first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 is formed. The
first insulating material layer 511 may be located on the via layer
200 to entirely cover the above members. The first insulating
material layer 511 may be patterned in the subsequent process to be
described later to form the first insulating layer of FIG. 3.
[0189] Next, light emitting elements 300 are arranged in the light
emitting area of each sub-pixel PXn or on the first electrode
expansion portion 210E and the second electrode bending portion
220D.
[0190] In the method of aligning the light emitting elements 300, a
solution S (see FIG. 11) including the light emitting elements 300
may be sprayed on the electrodes 210 and 220, and an alignment
power supply may be applied to each of the electrodes 210 and 220
to align the light emitting elements 300. The alignment power
supply may form an electric field between the electrodes 210 and
220 to apply a dielectrophoretic force to the light emitting
elements 300. The light emitting elements 300 may be aligned
between the electrodes 210 and 220 in the solution S by the
dielectrophoretic force.
[0191] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the solution S in which the
light emitting elements 300 are dispersed is sprayed on the first
insulating material layer 511. The method of spraying the solution
S may be performed by using various processes, such as inkjet
printing, inkjet injection, slot dye coating, and slot dye
printing, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Steps
of the first insulating material layer 511 may be formed due to the
first partition wall 410, the second partition wall 420, and the
third partition wall 430. For example, because the third partition
wall 430 is formed to have a greater height, the light emitting
elements 300 sprayed on the first insulating material layer 511 may
be sprayed on the light emitting area LA surrounded by the third
partition wall 430.
[0192] Next, referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the first electrode 210
and the second electrode 220 applies an alignment signal to form an
electric field E therebetween. One end of the light emitting
element 300 may have a first polarity, and the other end thereof
may have a second polarity that is different from the first
polarity. When the light emitting elements 300 each having both
ends of different polarities are placed in the electric field E,
the alignment direction of the light emitting elements 300 may be
controlled by electrical forces (attractive force and repulsive
force).
[0193] When the electric field E is formed in the solution S
sprayed on the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220,
the light emitting elements 300 may receive an electrical force by
the electric field E, and the light emitting elements 300 may be
arranged between the first electrode 210 and the second electrode
220 as a result of the electrical force. As shown in FIG. 13, the
light emitting element 300 is located on the first insulating
material layer 511 between the first electrode 210 and the second
electrode 220.
[0194] Here, ends of the light emitting element 300 are located on
the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220, respectively.
That is, one end of the light emitting element 300 may be located
on the first electrode expansion portion 210E, and the other end
thereof may be located on the second electrode bending portion
220D. As described above, the first electrode expansion portion
210E and the second electrode bending portion 220D may include a
plurality of electrode surfaces ES extending in different
directions, and the light emitting elements 300 may be aligned to
have different domains DM in the light emitting area LA.
[0195] Next, referring to FIG. 14, at least a portion of the first
insulating material layer 511 is patterned to form a first
insulating layer 510, and a second insulating layer 520 and a
contact electrode 260 is formed on the first insulating layer 510.
The description of these structures is the same as that mentioned
above. Finally, referring to FIG. 15, a portion of the first
electrode 210 and a portion of the second electrode 220 are cut
along a cutting portion(s) CB to manufacture the display device 10
of FIG. 1.
[0196] Hereinafter, other embodiments of the display device 10 will
be described.
[0197] Unlike in FIG. 1, the display device 10 may include a larger
number of electrodes. A third electrode 230 and a fourth electrode
240 may be located between the first electrode 210 and the second
electrode 220, and these electrodes may be alternately arranged
with respect to the center of the first electrode expansion portion
210E. The third electrode 230 and the fourth electrode 240 may be
substantially similar to any one of the first electrode branch 210B
and the second electrode branch 220B. That is, the display device
10 effectively may further include another first electrode branch
210B spaced apart from the outside of the second electrode branch
220B of the display device 10 of FIG. 1 and facing the outside
thereof, and may include another second electrode branch 220B
spaced apart from the other first electrode branch 210B.
[0198] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a display device according to
another embodiment, and FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the portion
B of FIG. 16.
[0199] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a display device 10-1
according to another embodiment may further include a third
electrode 230_1 and a fourth electrode 240_1 located between a
first electrode branch 210B_1 and a second electrode branch 220B_1.
The display device 10_1 of FIG. 16 is the same as the display
device 10 of FIG. 1, except that the display device 10_1 of the
present embodiment further includes two third electrodes 230_1 and
two fourth electrodes 240_1. Hereinafter, redundant descriptions
will be omitted, and the third electrode 230_1 and the fourth
electrode 240_1 will be described in detail.
[0200] The display device 10-1 according to another embodiment may
further include a third electrode 230_1 located between a first
electrode expansion portion 210E_1 and a second electrode bending
portion 220D_1, and may also include a fourth electrode 240_1
located between the third electrode 230_1 and the first electrode
210_1.
[0201] The third electrode 230_1 may include a third electrode
extension portion 230C_1 extending in the second direction DR2, and
a plurality of third electrode fragments 230F_1 bent according to
the shape of the second electrode bending portion 220D_1 and spaced
apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The third
electrode 230_1 may have substantially the same shape as the second
electrode branch portion 220B_1, and an area corresponding to the
second electrode bending portion 220D_1 may be cut to form the
plurality of third electrode fragments 230F_1. Although it is shown
in the drawings that four third electrode fragments 230F_1 are
formed, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0202] The third electrode 230_1 may be substantially similar to
any one of the first electrode branches 210B_1. In an embodiment,
the first electrode 210_1 may include a plurality of first
electrode branches 210B_1, any one of the first electrode branches
210B_1 may include a first electrode expansion portion 210E_1 and a
first electrode extension portion 210C_1, and others of the first
electrode branches 210B_1 may form the third electrode extension
portion 230C_1 and the third electrode fragments 230F_1. That is,
during the process of manufacturing the display device 10_1, like
the first electrode branch 210B_1, the third electrode 230_1 may be
branched from the first electrode stem 210S, may be disconnected
along a cutting portion CB_1, and may then be additionally
disconnected at respective portions to form the plurality of third
electrode fragments 230F_1.
[0203] The third electrode extension portion 230C_1 may be spaced
apart from the second electrode extension portion 220C_1 and may
face the second electrode extension portion 220C_1. The third
electrode extension portion 230C_1 may also extend in the second
direction DR2, and may be located in the non-light emitting area
NLA. The third electrode fragment 230F_1 may be spaced apart from
the second electrode bending portion 220D_1 and may face the second
electrode bending portion 220D_1. In some embodiments, the third
electrode fragment 230F_1 may include an electrode surface spaced
apart from the electrode surface ES of the second electrode bending
portion 220D_1 and facing the electrode surface ES thereof. The
third electrode fragment 230F_1 may have substantially the same
shape as the second electrode bending portion 220D_1, and some
regions of the third electrode fragment 230F_1 may be disconnected
to be spaced apart from each other.
[0204] The fourth electrode 240_1 may include a fourth electrode
extension portion 240C_1 extending in the second direction DR2, and
a plurality of fourth electrode fragments 240F_1 that are bent
according to the shape of the first electrode expansion portion
210E_1, and that are spaced apart from each other in the second
direction DR2. The fourth electrode 240_1 may have substantially
the same shape as the second electrode branch portion 220B_1, and
an area corresponding to the second electrode bending portion
220D_1 may be cut to form the plurality of fourth electrode
fragments 240F_1. Although it is shown in the drawings that four
fourth electrode fragments 240F_1 are formed, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the fourth
electrode 240_1 may have the same shape as the third electrode
230_1, and may be located between the third electrode 230_1 and the
first electrode branch 210B_1.
[0205] The fourth electrode 240_1 may be substantially similar to
any one of the second electrode branches 220B_1. In an embodiment,
the second electrode 220_1 may include a plurality of second
electrode branches 220B_1, the two second electrode branches 220B_1
may include a second electrode bending portion 220D_1 and a second
electrode extension portion 220C_1, and other second electrode
branches 220B_1 may form the fourth electrode extension portion
240C_1 and the fourth electrode fragments 240F_1. That is, during
the process of manufacturing the display device 10_1, like the
second electrode branch 220B_1, the fourth electrode 240_1 may be
branched from the second electrode stem 220S, may be disconnected
along the cutting portion CB_1, and may be then additionally
disconnected to form the four fourth electrode fragments
240F_1.
[0206] The fourth electrode extension portion 240C_1 may be spaced
apart from the first electrode extension portion 210C_1 and may
face the first electrode extension portion 210C_1. The fourth
electrode extension portion 240C_1 may also extend in the second
direction DR2 and may be located in the non-light emitting area
NLA. The fourth electrode fragment 240F_1 may be spaced apart from
the first electrode expansion portion 210E_1 and may face the first
electrode expansion portion 210E_1. In some embodiments, the fourth
electrode fragment 240F_1 may include an electrode surface spaced
apart from the electrode surface ES of the first electrode
expansion portion 210E_1 and facing the electrode surface ES
thereof.
[0207] That is, the third electrode 230_1 and the fourth electrode
240_1 may be floating electrodes in which branches that are
branched from the first electrode stem 210S_1 and the second
electrode stem 220S_1 are disconnected along the cutting portion(s)
CB_1.
[0208] The display device 10_1 according to an embodiment may
include a plurality of light emitting elements 300_1 located
between the first electrode expansion portion 210E_1 and the fourth
electrode fragment 240F_1, between the fourth electrode fragment
240F_1 and the third electrode fragment 230F_1, and between the
third electrode fragment 230F_1 and the second electrode bending
portion 220D_1. The display device 10_1 may further include a third
contact electrode 263_1 and a fourth contact electrode 264_1
located on the third electrode fragment 230F_1 and the fourth
electrode fragment 240F_1.
[0209] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a first light emitting
element 301_1 and a second light emitting element 302_1 may be
located between the first electrode expansion portion 210E_1 and
the fourth fragment 240F_1, a third light emitting element 303_1
and a fourth light emitting element 304_1 may be located between
the fourth electrode fragment 240F_1 and the third electrode
fragment 230F_1, and a fifth light emitting element 305_1 and a
sixth light emitting element 306_1 may be located between the third
electrode fragment 230F_1 and the second electrode bending portion
220D_1.
[0210] In the display device 10_1, the area where the light
emitting elements 300_1 are located, that is, the area among the
electrodes 210_1, 220_1, 230_1, and 240_1 increases, thereby
increasing the number of the light emitting elements 300_1 per unit
area. Accordingly, the display device 10_1 can improve the light
emission efficiency per unit area.
[0211] Meanwhile, the first light emitting element 301_1, the third
light emitting element 303_1, and the fifth light emitting element
305_1 may have long axes oriented toward the third direction DR3,
and the second light emitting element 302_1, the fourth light
emitting element 304_1, and the sixth light emitting element 306_1
may have long axes oriented toward the first direction DR1. That
is, as described above, the display device 10_1 may include light
emitting elements 300_1 having different alignment directions for
each domain DM of the light emitting area LA_1, and thus the
visibility of the display device 10_1 can be improved.
[0212] Further, because the third electrode fragment 230F_1 and the
fourth electrode fragment 240F_1 are spaced apart from each other,
one contact electrode may be located for each of the electrode
fragments 230F_1 and 240F_1.
[0213] For example, the plurality of third electrode fragments
230F_1 and the plurality of fourth electrode fragments 240F_1 are
respectively spaced apart from each other, and the plurality of
third contact electrodes 263_1 may be in contact with one end of
the third light emitting element 303_1 or the fourth light emitting
element 304_1 and the third electrode fragment 230F_1. The
plurality of fourth contact electrodes 264_1 may be in contact with
the other end of the third light emitting element 303_1 or the
fourth light emitting element 304_1 and the fourth electrode
fragment 240F_1. Here, the plurality of third contact electrodes
263_1 and the plurality of fourth contact electrodes 264_1 may be
respectively spaced apart from each other in one direction, for
example, the second direction DR2.
[0214] In this case, the third light emitting element 303_1 and
fourth light emitting element 304_1 of the display device 10_1 may
be electrically connected in parallel to each other, and the third
light emitting element 303_1 may be electrically connected in
series to the first light emitting element 301_1 and the fifth
light emitting element 305_1. Accordingly, unlike the display
device 10 of FIG. 1, in the display device 10_1 of FIG. 16, the
plurality of light emitting elements 300_1 are connected in series
or in parallel, thereby further improving light emission efficiency
per unit area.
[0215] According to the embodiments, because the light emitting
elements may have various alignment directions in the light
emitting area of the display device, the display device may improve
visibility in each direction.
[0216] Further, because the display device further includes a
plurality of floating electrodes located between the first
electrode and the second electrode, the light emitting elements
between the floating electrodes are connected in series to each
other, thereby improving the light emission efficiency per unit
area.
[0217] In concluding the detailed description, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that many variations and modifications can be
made to the disclosed embodiments without substantially departing
from the principles of the present disclosure. Therefore, the
disclosed embodiments of the invention are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *